Self-retracting type seat belt device

ABSTRACT

A self-retracting type seat belt device in which, upon buckling of the seat belt, a belt winder is automatically caused to rotate initially so as to impart a suitable slack to the seat belt and is then locked to preclude any further extension or retraction of the seat belt.

United States Patent 1191 Okada Nov. 13, 1973 [541 S BLF-RETRACTING TYPE SEAT BELT 3,266,842 8/1966 Board et al. 180/82 C DEVICE 3,486,792 12/1969 Stoffel 280/150 SB 3,240,510 3/1966 Spouge 242/107.4 Inventor Mfltohil'o Okada, y Japan 3,172,700 3/1965 Haas 297/385 Assignee: Honda Giken gy Kabushiki 3,610,361 /1971 Prlngle 280/150 SB Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan I 1 1 Filed: y 1972 Primary ExaminerStanley N. Gilreath [211 App] N05 258,085 Assistant Examiner.lon W. Henry AttorneyEric H. Waters et a1.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 29, 1971 Japan 46/37180 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 242/l07.4, 242/107 SB 1 [51] Int. Cl. A62b /00, B65h 77/00 58 Field of Search 242/107 R, 107.2, A self-retracting yp a belt device in which, p 242 073 107 4 107 107 297 3 5 buckling of the seat belt, a belt winder is automatically 3 3 7 33 230 1 mg; C caused to rotate initially so as to impart a suitable slack to the seat belt and is then locked to preclude 5 References Cited 7 any further extension or retraction of the seat belt' UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1966 Fontaine 242/107.4

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENH-Innnv 13 1915 3771; 742

sum 1 er 2 SELF-RETRACTING TYPE SEAT BELT DEVICE BACKGROUND a. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to safety seat belt devices for use in automobiles, trucks and like vehicles and more particularly to seat belt devices of the selfretracting type whichinclude a belt winder normally spring-biased to wind up the seat belt'with the intention of facilitating its application around the driver orpassenger and preventing it from lying loose on the seat when not in use.

b. Prior Art In any known form of safety seat belt device of the type described, the belt in use is continuously kept under an appreciable tension, pressing against the users body causing discomfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the provision of a new and improved s elf-retracting type seat belt device which is freefrom the above-described difficulty encountered in previous devices'of the same type.

Particularly, the present invention provides a selfretracting type seat belt device which comprises means for detecting completion of a belt applying operation by the user, means operable in response to the completion of the belt applying operation to cause the belt winder incorporated in the device to rotate in the beltslackening direction so as tolet out the seat belt a predetermined additional length, and means for locking the belt winder in the position it assumes with the seat beltso let out. v J Y The construction and operation of the device of the present invention will next be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DETAILED DESCRIPTION the pres- 2 the pawl lever is moved to release another limitswitch 12, which is inserted in the motor circuit. The limit switch 12 is normally held open by pawl lever 11 and upon release of lever 11 the limit switch 12 is allowed to close. The motor 7, however, continues to rotate in the same direction with the relay contacts 5 and 5 remaining closed. Meanwhile, the pawl lever 11 is released from a stop 13, which has previously been holding the pawl lever 11 out of engagement with a ratchet wheel 14 integral with winder 8. Upon release from stop 13, the pawl is brought into engagement with wheel 14 under the bias of a tension spring 15 whereby the belt winder 8 is now rotated by motor 7', in the beltslackening direction A against the bias of the winder spring of winder 8.

Subsequently, when the seat belt has been let out a predetermined additional length giving to the seat belt open or close the door of the vehicle, he can do so.

Referring to the drawingand first to the electric circuit diagram of FIG-"l, reference numeral 1 designates belt buckle. When the seat belt (indicated at 3 in FIG.

2) is pulled out and buckled up by the driver or passenger, the switch 2 is closed to operate a relay 4 in a manner so that its contacts 5, and 5 are closed to complete a motor circuit including a normally closed limit switch 6 and a motor 7. Accordingly, motor 7 is caused to rotate in a direction such as to turn a sector gear 10 clockwise i.e., in the direction indicated by the arrow A, through the intermediary of a worm gear 9. As shown, the sector gear 10 is mounted coaxially with a belt winder 8 and the belt 3 anchored to the belt winder is slackened or let out as the winder 8 rotates in the direction of'arrow A.

A pawl lever 11 is pivotally mounted on the sector gear 10 and, as the sector gear starts turning clockwise,

merely by opening the normally closed switch 1 thereby to restore the relay 4 to its normal state. In this manner, the belt winder isreadily unlocked allowing the seat belt to be pulled out freely. I I When the user unbuckles the seat belt in getting out of the vehicle, the switch 2 is opened and the relay 4 is operated to close contacts 16, and 16 so that the motor circuit (including closed switch 12) is closed and the motor 7 starts to rotate this time in the reversedirectionto retract the seat belt. The sector gear 10 is thus returned together with the belt winder 8, allowing the limit switch 6 to return to its normally closed state. As the sector gear 10re'aches its initial position, the pawl lever 11 is brought into engagement with the stop '13 and is ro cked out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 14 allowing the-belt winder 8 to operate under its ownspring bias. At the same time, the limit switch 12 is opened by the pawl lever llto restore the entire device to the initial state.

As apparent from the foregoing description, the selfretracting type seat belt device of the present invention 'is highly advantageous in that when the seat belt is form, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a self-retracting type seat belt device having a beltwinding drum biased by a spring for automatically winding up a seat belt, the seat belt being engageable by the user to be buckled and unbuckled, an improvebelt winding drum for locking the same in rotation when the belt is buckled, and a slackening means for rotating said base and lacking member with said belt winding drum in a belt-slackening direction when said locking member is engaged with said belt winding drum so as to let out the seat belt a predetermined additional length.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for releasing the locking means when the seat belt is unbuckled.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 comprising means for releasing the locking means while the seat belt remains buckled and operatively placed around the user.

4. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the slackening means comprises a motor, a supply circuit for said motor including switch means which is closed upon buckling the belt, and means operatively coupling said motor and base for providing a driving connection therebetween when the switch means is closed.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said supply circuit comprises a relay controlled by operation of said switch means to connect said motor to a power supply such that the motor is driven in one direction when the seat belt is buckled and in opposite direction when the seat belt is unbuckled.

6. A combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein the base comprises a sector gear, the winder being rotatable about a given axis to retract and pay-out the seat belt, said sector gear being rotatably mounted on .the belt winder for rotation about an axis coincident with said axis of rotation of the winder, a ratchet wheel fixed to the winder for rotation therewith, said locking member comprising a pivotal pawl lever on said sector gear engageable with said ratchet wheel to lock the sector gear and ratchet wheel together.

7. A combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein said supply circuit comprises a relay controlled by operation of said switch means to connect said motor to a power supply such that the motor is driven in one direction when the seat belt is buckled and in opposite direction when the seat belt is unbuckled, a second switch means controlled by operation of said pawl lever to close said circuit and ready the same for operation when the first said switch means is opened by unbuckling the seat belt and said relay is operated.

8. A combination as claimed in claim 7 comprising a third switch means connected in the supply cicuit to open said circuit when the sector gear has rotated a given amount and a predetermined length of belt has been paid-out.

9. A combination as claimed in claim 8 comprising a stop means positioned to engage said pivotal pawl lever and disconnect the lever from said ratchet wheel and also cause the lever to act on said second switch means when the seat belt is unbuckled.

10. In a self-retracting type seat belt device having a spring biassed belt winder for retracting a seat belt, the seat belt being engageable by the user to be operatively placed around the user and buckled in a belt applying operation and unbuckled in a belt releasing operation, an improvement comprising means for detecting buckling and unbuckling of the seat belt, means for rotating the belt winder in a belt-slackening direction to let out the seat belt a predetermined length when the first said means detects buckling of the belt, and means for locking the belt winder in the position it assumes when the predetermined length is let out. 

1. In a self-retracting type seat belt device having a belt winding drum biased by a spring for automatically winding up a seat belt, the seat belt being engageable by the user to be buckled and unbuckled, an improvement comprising means for detecting buckling of the belt, a locking means engagable with the winding drum including a base and a locking member supported on said base, means responsive to said detecting means for making said locking member into engagement with the belt winding drum for locking the same in rotation when the belt is buckled, and a slackeninG means for rotating said base and lacking member with said belt winding drum in a belt-slackening direction when said locking member is engaged with said belt winding drum so as to let out the seat belt a predetermined additional length.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for releasing the locking means when the seat belt is unbuckled.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 comprising means for releasing the locking means while the seat belt remains buckled and operatively placed around the user.
 4. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the slackening means comprises a motor, a supply circuit for said motor including switch means which is closed upon buckling the belt, and means operatively coupling said motor and base for providing a driving connection therebetween when the switch means is closed.
 5. A combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said supply circuit comprises a relay controlled by operation of said switch means to connect said motor to a power supply such that the motor is driven in one direction when the seat belt is buckled and in opposite direction when the seat belt is unbuckled.
 6. A combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein the base comprises a sector gear, the winder being rotatable about a given axis to retract and pay-out the seat belt, said sector gear being rotatably mounted on the belt winder for rotation about an axis coincident with said axis of rotation of the winder, a ratchet wheel fixed to the winder for rotation therewith, said locking member comprising a pivotal pawl lever on said sector gear engageable with said ratchet wheel to lock the sector gear and ratchet wheel together.
 7. A combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein said supply circuit comprises a relay controlled by operation of said switch means to connect said motor to a power supply such that the motor is driven in one direction when the seat belt is buckled and in opposite direction when the seat belt is unbuckled, a second switch means controlled by operation of said pawl lever to close said circuit and ready the same for operation when the first said switch means is opened by unbuckling the seat belt and said relay is operated.
 8. A combination as claimed in claim 7 comprising a third switch means connected in the supply cicuit to open said circuit when the sector gear has rotated a given amount and a predetermined length of belt has been paid-out.
 9. A combination as claimed in claim 8 comprising a stop means positioned to engage said pivotal pawl lever and disconnect the lever from said ratchet wheel and also cause the lever to act on said second switch means when the seat belt is unbuckled.
 10. In a self-retracting type seat belt device having a spring biassed belt winder for retracting a seat belt, the seat belt being engageable by the user to be operatively placed around the user and buckled in a belt applying operation and unbuckled in a belt releasing operation, an improvement comprising means for detecting buckling and unbuckling of the seat belt, means for rotating the belt winder in a belt-slackening direction to let out the seat belt a predetermined length when the first said means detects buckling of the belt, and means for locking the belt winder in the position it assumes when the predetermined length is let out. 